TUTA Theatre’s “Attempts On Her Life” Is Abstract Art
Attempts on Her Life is an abstract play that presents numerous vignettes about a woman named Anne. With a talented cast and excellent lighting choices, this challenging piece can be a little tough to connect with.
Plays are presented in all forms. Some have a standard story that runs from a beginning to a middle to an end, and some are improvised from performance to performance. Others are more theoretical. They ask questions and don’t provide answers. They present scenarios and show you what could be. That is the way of the new production of Attempts on Her Life at the TUTA Theatre.
Attempts on Her Life is a play by Martin Crimp that shuns the traditional narrative structure and instead presents seventeen different scenarios about a woman named Anne (or Annie, Anya, or Anna). You never meet the elusive Anne, but six players spend the production discussing and debating her – who she is, what she’s been through, what she could be, and what she’s done.
Anne can be an artist, a terrorist, a child, a brand new car, a pornographic movie star, or various other things. There are many options within this world, and none are fully spelled out or selected.
There are some stunning visuals in this production – starting with none at all. The show opens in utter blackness. You cannot see your hand in front of your face. As you listen to messages for Anne come through on her answering machine, the faintest bit of light begins to emerge – so faint that you aren’t sure whether you’re imagining it or not.
Over the next few minutes, with the lights slowly glowing brighter, all while listening to various answering machine messages that are relaying messages for seemingly different people – or from people who have had significantly different experiences with one person – one at a time, six people walk into the room. Each is wearing the same blonde wig and has their face cast in shadow. They take positions on a stage consisting of two sets of open window blinds and you realize that you are seeing versions of Anne. Or are you? And this is the only time you may be meeting her.
All of the players wear striking bright red shoes and colorful outfits that are modified during scenes throughout the show. The ground is covered in a thick, soft, red carpet and the walls are aluminum foil silver. All of this together is slightly electrifying and piques one’s curiosity.
I found the script somewhat tedious. While I had a strong appreciation for what I was seeing, the actors’ performances, and how the show was being presented, there were only a few times that I was able to find a connection with the show – where I felt emotion towards what was being presented before me and wanted to know more.
I realize that may be part of the play. Maybe connection isn’t the goal with an artistic piece such as this and you are meant to be left wondering. One audience member audibly and physically seemed to connect by nodding her head frantically and making noises of agreement and shock. I was fascinated by this at the moments when I didn’t. I wanted to know what she was processing that I wasn’t seeing. But maybe that is the point in how theatre can affect each of us differently.
Attempts on Her Life is a visually appealing and interesting show that comes across as avant-garde and unusual. The actors are thoroughly connected with the material and take you on a ride that can be difficult to understand. That said, with seventeen vignettes, there is something for everyone.
Attempts on Her Life runs 1 hour and 45 minutes with no clear intermission, although there is a point where a cast member posts a bathroom sign, seemingly indicating that the audience can go. The show is rated PG-13 for mature themes and language.
Attempts on Her Life Trailer from TUTA on Vimeo.
TUTA Theatre: Attempts on Her Life Chicago Review – Attempts on Her Life is playing at TUTA Theatre through 8/25/24. Tickets can be purchased on the TUTA Theatre website. You can contact them at [email protected] for more information. TUTA Theatre is located at 4670 North Manor Avenue in Chicago.